Harden, Cecil Murray Papers, 1938-1984 (Bulk 1950-1960)
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Collection #s M 0584 OMB 0043 HARDEN, CECIL MURRAY PAPERS, 1938-1984 (BULK 1950-1960) Collection Information Biographical Sketch Scope and Content Note Series Contents Cataloging Information Processed by: Ellen Swain & Paul Brockman 5 August 1991 Updated 1 July 2004 Manuscript and Visual Collections Department William Henry Smith Memorial Library Indiana Historical Society 450 West Ohio Street Indianapolis, IN 46202-3269 www.indianahistory.org COLLECTION INFORMATION VOLUME OF COLLECTION: 20 manuscript boxes, 5 4X6 "shoe boxes", 6 oversize manuscript boxes (12 linear feet) COLLECTION DATES: Inclusive, 1938-1984; bulk, 1950-1960 PROVENANCE: Marjorie M. Harden, West Lafayette, Indiana, 26 June 1985 RESTRICTIONS: None COPYRIGHT: Held by Indiana Historical Society ALTERNATE FORMATS: None OTHER FINDING AIDS: None RELATED HOLDINGS: None ACCESSION NUMBER: 1987.0570 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Cecil Murray Harden (1894-1984), a native of Covington, Indiana, attended Indiana University and taught in the Covington school system. In 1914, she married Frost R. Harden, owner of a local Ford dealership and bore one son Murray, later a doctor in West Lafayette. Active in local clubs and church organizations, Harden began her political career in 1932 when she was elected Republican Precinct Committeewoman. After holding several district and state positions within the Indiana Republican Party, Harden was elected to the United States House of Representatives from the Sixth District in 1948. While in Congress, Harden became in 1951 the first woman member of a House subcommittee to make an official trip around the world. She served on the House Committee on Government Operations for eight years and on the House Committee for Post Office Civil Service for six years. One of her congressional activities involved gaining funds for the Federal flood control project in Indiana. After her defeat in the 1958 election, Harden was appointed Special Assistant to the Postmaster General for Women's Affairs by Postmaster General Arthur Summerfield, a position she held until 1961. During this time, Harden toured the country, speaking on the danger of "obscene" mail. During the 1960s, Harden remained active in politics by serving as National Committeewoman for Indiana (1964- 1972). She also was a member of the Task Force on Conduct of Foreign Relations of the Republican Coordinating Committee from 1965 to 1968 and served as a delegate-at-large for the 1968 and 1972 National Conventions. While spending her retirement years in Covington, Harden was honored in 1973 with an appreciation dinner in which five hundred friends and associates paid tribute to her years of service. Cecil M. Harden Day was established and Mansfield Lake was renamed for her in 1974 as a tribute to her work for the flood control project. Sources: Biographical_Directory_of_U.S._Congress,_1774-1983, p. 1130. Information obtained from materials in collection. SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE The collection, spanning the years 1938 to the 1970s, consists largely of Harden's personal and political correspondence. Arranged chronologically, these folders contain cards and letters from family and friends as well as correspondence between constituents and colleagues. Also included is correspondence regarding Harden's six congressional campaigns (1948-1958) and her work as Special Assistant to the Postmaster General, as well as five letters from President Eisenhower congratulating her for her congressional work. Tributes such as Cecil M. Harden Day, Cecil M. Harden Lake, and a Harden appreciation dinner given in 1973 include congratulatory letters and well- wishes. Republican committee and convention correspondence and information as well as election results comprise three boxes and various legislation sponsored by Harden make up two boxes. Also comprising a substantial part of the collection are Harden's speeches and news releases. A number of speeches are dated during Harden's congressional years and address such topics as high prices, Republican elections, and Abraham Lincoln. The majority, however, dated 1959 to 1961 and given when Harden was touring the United States as Special Assistant to the Postmaster General, attack the distribution of "obscene" material through the United States mail service. Groups addressed include women's organizations, rotary clubs, and post office employees. Items regarding Harden's public service role such as flag presentations and post office dedications, as well as the 1961 Raccoon Lake Recreation Area Dedication are also included. Other items in the collection include political and personal expense accounts, appointment books, and calendars. Military academy appointments made by Harden when in Congress span the years 1951 to 1959 and comprise three boxes. Issues such as aging, health and nutrition, and women in politics are also covered. Clippings from various newspapers, dated from the 1940s to the 1970s, document Harden's personal and political life. Republican material including Richard M. Nixon speeches and election material from the late sixties and seventies are among the miscellaneous items. Speech notes, expense books, check books, note pads, address books, and diaries are contained in the remaining five boxes of the collection. BOX AND FOLDER LISTING BOX 1: Biographical Information; Correspondence 1938-1956 FOLDER CONTENTS 1 Biographical Information 2 Correspondence - Murray and Marge Harden 1938-1946 3 Congratulatory Telegrams and Letters 1948 4 Correspondence Regarding Truman Campaign Tour 1950 5 Campaign Contribution Correspondence 1950-1951 6 Personal Correspondence 1950-1951 7 Correspondence 1952 8 Congratulatory Letters - 1952 Election 9 Personal Correspondence 1953 10 Letters from Pres. Eisenhower (5) 1953-1956 11 Correspondence 1954 12 Correspondence - Harden Grandchildren 1954-1956 13 Correspondence 1955 14 Correspondence - Frost R. Harden 1950-1954 15 Correspondence - Frost R. Harden 1955-1956 16 Correspondence 1956 BOX 2: Correspondence 1956-1959 FOLDER CONTENTS 1 Congratulatory Letters - 1956 Campaign, part 1 2 Congratulatory Letters - 1956 Campaign, part 2 3 Correspondence 1957 4 Post Election Letters - 1958 Election 5 Correspondence 1958 6 Personal Correspondence 1958 7 Sympathy Letters Regarding 1958 Defeat 8 Invitations Declined 1959 9 Personal Correspondence 1959 BOX 3: Correspondence 1959-1964 FOLDER CONTENTS 1 Correspondence - Pearl Sayre 1959 2 Personal Correspondence, March-April 1959 3 Personal Correspondence 1959 4 Christmas Cards 1959 5 Unsigned Correspondence 1959 6 Personal Correspondence 1959-1960 7 Personal Correspondence 1959-1960 8 Personal Correspondence 1959-1960 9 Personal Correspondence 1959-1961 10 Interdepartmental - Cecil Harden Communications 1960 11 Personal Correspondence 1960 12 Personal Correspondence 1960 13 Personal Correspondence 1961 14 Personal Correspondence and Report to Postmaster General 1961 15 Correspondence 1961-1962 16 Correspondence 1961-1964 BOX 4: Correspondence 1964-1972; Personal Files 1959-1960 FOLDER CONTENTS 1 Correspondence 1964-1965 2 Correspondence and Miscellaneous 1964 - 1965 3 Correspondence Regarding the Death of Frost Harden, August 1965 4 Correspondence - Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford 1968 5 Correspondence - Raymond Humphreys 1968 6 Correspondence 1968-1969 7 Notes and Correspondence 1970-1977 8 Political Correspondence 1972 9 Birthday Cards, n.d. 10 Personal B, 1959-1960 11 Personal C, 1959-1960 12 Personal D, 1959-1960 13 Personal E, 1959-1960 14 Personal F, 1959-1960 15 Personal H, 1959-1960 16 Personal K, 1959 17 Personal L, 1959-1960 18 Personal M, 1959-1960 19 Personal N, 1959-1960 20 Personal P, 1959 21 Personal R, 1959 22 Personal S, 1959-1960 23 Personal T, 1959-1960 24 Personal U, n.d. 25 Personal V, 1959 26 Personal W, 1959 BOX 5: Personal Files 1960; Campaign Material 1948-1956 FOLDER CONTENTS 1 Personal A, 1960 2 Personal C, 1960 3 Personal D, 1960 4 Personal E, 1960 5 Personal F, 1960 6 Personal G, 1960 7 Personal H, 1960 8 Personal J, 1960 9 Personal K, 1960 10 Personal L, 1960 11 Personal M, 1960 12 Personal N, 1960 13 Personal O, 1960 14 Personal P, 1960 15 Personal R, 1960 16 Personal S, 1960 17 Personal T, 1960 18 Personal W, 1960 19 Personal Y, 1960 20 Personal Records, 1959-1960 21 Radio Speeches - Campaign 1948 22 Campaign 1952 part 1 23 Campaign 1952 part 2 24 Campaign Contributions 1952 25 Campaign Miscellaneous 1954-1956 26 Campaign 1956 part 1 27 Campaign 1956 part 2 28 Campaign Contributions 1956 29 Primary 1956 - Newspaper Clippings BOX 6: Campaign Material 1958-1972; Committees and Conventions, 1940-1966 FOLDER CONTENTS 1 General Campaign 1958 2 Campaign Planning - September 1971 3 Sample Questions and Answers, Speechmaking Primer - Campaign 1968 4 Campaign Planning - September 1971 5 Campaign Contribution Laws 1972 6 Republican National Committee 1940s 7 Minutes of Republican National Committee Meeting, Indianapolis - January 22, 1945 8 Committee on Un-American Activities Information 1956 9 Resignation From Republican National Committee 1959 10 National Republican Women's Convention - Washington D.C. 1959 11 Seventh Annual Republican Women's Conference, April 12-15, 1959 12 Citizens Advisory Committee on Literature, December 1959 13 (OMB 43) Box 1, Scrapbook Regarding Special Assistant to the Postmaster General, 1959 14 National Association of Postal Supervisors Convention 1960 15 Republican National Convention Materials 1960 16 Republican National Committee Correspondence 1965 17 Republican Women's Conference 1965 18 Women's Task Force Committee 1965 19 List of Members